Pakistan welcomes Indian calls for dialogue as regional tensions persist

Pakistan welcomed growing calls within India for renewed dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbors on Thursday, describing the development as encouraging. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi made the remarks at the weekly media briefing in Islamabad. The comments came amid strained bilateral relations and ongoing regional tensions between the two countries.

What is Pakistan's position on dialogue with India?

Pakistan believes peaceful, meaningful, and constructive dialogue is the only viable way to resolve longstanding disputes with India. Islamabad views recent statements by prominent Indian figures advocating engagement as a positive development. Andrabi said he had no information on any active backchannel contacts but stressed that diplomacy remained Pakistan's preferred approach.

Which Indian figures have called for dialogue with Pakistan?

Former Indian army chief General Manoj Naravane backed calls by senior RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale for sustained dialogue between the neighbors. Naravane told PTI on Wednesday that people-to-people engagement was essential to improving relations, saying ordinary citizens on both sides shared similar concerns about daily life. He also said interaction through Track-II diplomacy or sporting events was "very important," though dialogue should not come at the expense of national security.

Hosabale said there "should always be a window for dialogue" between India and Pakistan despite recurring tensions. He argued that diplomatic relations, trade, commerce, and visa arrangements should continue despite political friction. Hosabale also described the 2008 Mumbai attacks as a turning point that left mutual trust severely weakened, saying the peace period since then had been "very, very less."

The remarks drew criticism from India's opposition Congress party, which said on X that the "RSS's love for Pakistan has once again come to the fore." Congress repeated longstanding Indian allegations linking Pakistan to militancy, which Islamabad has consistently denied. The RSS is widely considered the ideological parent organization of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

What did Pakistan say about the U.S.-Iran peace process?

Andrabi said Pakistan remained hopeful about ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, despite delays in reaching an agreement. "The peace process is intact, it's holding on," he said, adding that Pakistan would continue to play its role. The spokesperson confirmed that Iran's proposals had been received and forwarded to the other side, as previously verified by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

What other diplomatic issues did Pakistan's Foreign Office address?

Andrabi said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had spoken with the Saudi, Austrian, and Chinese foreign ministers. Discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi focused on regional peace and stability, with Pakistan reaffirming its support for the One-China policy. The spokesperson also rejected a CBS News report alleging the presence of Iranian aircraft in Pakistan, calling the claims baseless and misleading.

On security matters, Andrabi condemned a militant attack on the Fateh Khel police check post in Bannu and said the Afghan chargé d'affaires had been summoned and handed a demarche over the incident. Pakistan welcomed Australia's decision to designate the Balochistan Liberation Army as a terrorist organization, calling it a result of diplomatic engagement. Andrabi also confirmed that Pakistani hostages held by Somali pirates were safe, with negotiations ongoing between the pirates and ship owners.